Tahoe Adventure

Last Wed we packed up and headed to Tahoe for a little R&R.  The drive up was smooth, the boys were pretty good but there was quite a bit of whining going on.  The house we rented was a bit odd but clean and roomy so all was good.  The beds were atrocious.  Seriously the hardest, most uncomfortable beds ever.  Judd was practically crippled by the time we left. 

Thursday, much to my dismay, we did nothing.  ALL DAY LONG.  Judd played his computer game, the boys played with Lego's and the Wii.  I read but inwardly fumed at wasting a day.    I realize and appreciate that Judd works hard and playing video games is his way of relaxing but COME ON.  We could have saved $600 and stayed home.   

Friday we cruised the lake on the MS Dixie II.  It was quite comfy.  Very smooth and large enough you didn't feel crammed in there. 
So pretty.

Paddle wheels a rollin

Heading out across the Lake to Emerald Bay

It was a bit blustery at the start and a little chilly.

This is a "castle" built as a summer home by Lora Knight in the '30's.    Its part of the state park now.  They have tours and whatnot. Its supposed to be one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the US They are restoring some of it now.


This is the Tea House, which is on a little tiny rock island called Fannette Island.  The guests of Mrs. Knight would row over and have tea parties.  It is also the home of the ghost of Captain Dick Barter.  Supposedly he capsized during a winter storm and his body was never recovered.  His ghost is supposedly seen on dark and stormy nights climbing out of the water and up the hill. 

Logan was most upset by this ghost story and was done with the tour at that point.  He pretty much cried most of the way back and was certain the ghost was going to come out of the water and get him.  It also didn't help that they told the legend of Tahoe Tessy on the way back.  Supposedly people have seen a "creature" similiar to the Loch Ness Monster.  Tales of fishermen having their catch "eaten".  When they pull their fish out it looks as if half of it had been eaten by a shark.  Theories abound that its some sort of dinosaur to an extra large sturgeon.  Whatever it is it also added to Logan's angst.  He had nightmares that night of Tessy coming out of the water and eating the ship with us on it.  Not a good night.
Ronan however didn't give it a second thought.

Afterwards we booked it over to Heavenly Village and rode the Gondola to the top.

You can see forever from the observation deck

Cheese!

There was still 10 feet of snow up there.  We got there too late to go on the sled runs, they closed at 3 and we didn't get there til almost 4.  BUMMER!

Ronan was having a ball throwing snowballs and eating the snow. 

Going back

View from inside going down.

It was pretty cool

Afterwards we had to get some ice cream of course.

Saturday we met up with the Coolbaugh family and headed to the beach at Zephyr Cove.

The water, being snow runoff and early in the year was quite chilly but Logan forgot about getting eaten by the Lake monster and had fun splashing about.

We rented a paddle boat. 

Ronan practicing his back stroke standing up.

Ronan standing in the hole Scott dug.  You can see Scott and Sydney out in the water.  Those are Sam's feet.

Afterwards we went back to the house, cleaned up and went out to dinner.  Then the Coolbaugh's had to go home and we had to pack.  Unfortunately for us the dryer in the house did not work which we found out when we got back from dinner and tried to put our wet clothes in.  So we had to come home with a large load of wet clothes only to find our own dryer wasn't working either.  AFTER we had washed another load of clothes.  So now we have 2 loads of wet clothes. JOY.

All in all the fun outweighed the not fun and when we go back we will take the trailer and stay at the campground right across from the beach.

Its official - he's a 1st grader

 this is his graduation present.  He wanted to pose with it with his diploma.  Its a big Lego snake.

 It was play day today at school so all they did from 8-11 is play games.  this was the one I was running.  It was a beach ball relay

It was quite entertaining.  It really goes to show what special people teachers are, especially kinder teachers!

He got really good marks on his report card and was above his grade level in every area.  Mrs. Mosley was very impressed with his ability to read in English and Spanish.   She said he would have absolutely no trouble doing any of the 1st grade work.  She sent home several workbooks to practice on over the summer and they made a shoebox that they decorated that is their "box of books" to read over the summer.  Its filled with all the little mini books they made during the year. 

One of the other moms also set up some "brush up" times over the summer.  Mrs. Mosley will come to their house on certain Tuesdays and Thursdays for 2 hours to go over what they learned. 

It was fun talking with the other kinder parents and hearing all the good things they had to say about him.  I wish I had the time to volunteer more in the classroom but alas I can only do events. 

Today Logan thought he had to start right away in 1st grade. He said "but I don't want to go to Jenna's class".  Jenna is his after school care's daughter.  She is in 1st grade.  He didn't quite get that he had most of the summer before he actually had to go back to school.  I finally had to show him on the calendar that he wouldn't go back to school until August 22nd.

Wow a 1st grader.

Here he is on the first day of school.

Now how did that happen?

this is the cup we made for Senora Mosley for the last day of school.  Yes you read that right LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.  Didn't he just start?

It says "have a cool summer Mrs. Mosley.  thanks for a great year".  Its an insulated cup filled with those little packets you mix with water.  Crystal Light, tea and whatnot.

He came home with a HUGE bag of papers.  All his homework is bound in a neat little spiral bound book along with a monthly self portrait.  there are several workbooks in there to use over the summer as well as a summer journal. 

WHAAAAA, where did my baby go? 

tomorrow is play day so I'll be there helping with the games and whatnot. 

Sigh, a first grader.....

Miscellaneous Camera photos

Here are some misc snapshots I've taken with my phone.

Ronan after a long day of swimming and playing.  Looks comfy....

Ronan posing on the sidewalk outside OSH.

During family sharing week one of the kids brought in their pony and the kids got pony rides.  Ronan loved it.

birthday party today doing a sponge transfer game.  Right after this picture Logan was done.  He was completely undone by the fact that he got wet, even though the whole point of the game is to transfer a wet sponge down the line.

Same party but over at the cannon.

Ronan said "take a picture of me"

And one more.  Kid doesn't have a single ham bone in his body eh?  Love the sprout hair.

Harley update

My poor ole girl.  Took her back for her checkup.  The medicines seem to be slowing the progression.  We totally have our hands full trying to give her the sub q fluids.  She turns into Sheena the jungle cat.  Dr O said we could discontinue those and try putting some electrolytes into her water since she does seem to drink more than she eats.  we will give that a shot and she goes back at the end of the month.  If her levels go up then we will have to make the decision to see if we can give her the fluids every day or ......

Her fancy new fresh water bowl.  Its so funny to watch her drink out of it.  She sticks her whole face in it.  I'm thinking " do you not feel that water pouring down your cheek?"  but she just drinks away and when she's done shes got water hanging off her whiskers, her chin and all down her front.

Sigh, I really don't want to have to deal with this.

Party like a 6 year old

The time had come, it was bright and sunny   dark and gloomy, so we loaded up and headed to the party.  I dropped them off then ran over to the store to pick up the cake and some supplies. 

It was madness, 11 4-7 year olds plus a couple of 2ish ones.  and all the other kids that were there to get out of the house.    Everyone seemed to have a really great time.

ronan put on a puppet show.

Logan loves this thing

There was some dressing up

and cake!

He did not cry this year when everyone sang Happy Birthday!

Pressly liked it!

Before we left for the party we let Logan open presents from us and grandpa

A big Lego set!  He was very excited.  480 pieces (me not so much)  I put it together, it only took an hour.  I told them if they took it apart I would not be responsible for my actions!

A bucket of army guys

Lego Star Wars

This was a Lego Fire truck

He got to eat whatever he wanted.  We went to Denny's (he's got high class taste) and stay up as late as he wanted.  He made it to 11pm.